Xp install issues, little help needed

Danm54

Danm54

Danm54

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20 May 2009
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Hi, ive just built an i3 rig and i cant for the life of me get an OS on it.

Quick specs

i3 530
Gigabyte GA-H55M-UD2H
4GB OCZ Gold DDR3
Samsung F4
Corsair CX 400W PSU

Now i started to install XP and got as for as loading device drivers and id get the irql_not_less_or_equal BSOD, i swapped the RAM out for 1 stick of mine and still got the same issue.
After a bit of research i got an XP disc with SP2 on it as i read the XP only discs were a common problem with driver errors.

Now i don't even get that far, it loads the files and before it gets to the windows screen it BSOD's with a hard drive/hardware error.

Ive tried all sorts in BIOS, from setting RAM timings and voltage, ACHI, etc etc and i keep hitting the same point. Ive tried an IDE drive, ive tried Vista and Windows 7, Vista and 7 just freeze before any windows screen and XP BSOD's.

Im properly out of ideas now, do i have faulty hardware? I will call OCUK and see what they say but id like to know if there's anything ive overlooked.
This isn't the first system ive built, im running a watercooled i5 system but that doesn't mean ive missed something totally obvious!

Thanks
 
Its all new hardware and not overclocked, i left the mobo battery out overnight and tried again with the same results.
 
Your HDD could be faulty or all the RAM is faulty. I know it is shiny and new, but the last two big orders I have had from OcUK both had parts that were DOA. They were wonderful and got parts replaced within days! Though in your case you need to know what's broken first!

If you have a spare HDD or RAM knocking about, it could be worth swapping it out and seeing if you have more success.
 
Most likely missing the sata drivers, you'll need to create a driver disk with them on and select f6 when told.
Or slipstream the drivers in using either nlite or the driverpacks base program.
 
LizardKing said:
Most likely missing the sata drivers, you'll need to create a driver disk with them on and select f6 when told.
Or slipstream the drivers in using either nlite or the driverpacks base program.
Click to expand...



I thought you could change something in the bios to get around that while installing XP?
 
LizardKing said:
Most likely missing the sata drivers, you'll need to create a driver disk with them on and select f6 when told.
Or slipstream the drivers in using either nlite or the driverpacks base program.
Click to expand...

It's not missing SATA drivers.

1: Windows XP SP2 has them built-in
2: Windows Vista has them built-in
3: Windows 7 has them built-in

He has failed installs on all 3.
 
That's a good shout actually. He has another PC so I would probably just yank the one out of there to test. But putting it on a USB drive should work too. Plenty of guides how to do it.
 
Have you set the ram voltage to 1.65v in the BIOS? If that doesn't help try slackening the ram timings a bit. I have the same ram and experienced the same problems until I slackened the timings off a little (even at stock speeds). I should probably RMA the ram tbh....

Edit: sorry, I just re-read your first post and saw that you have already tried what I suggested. Download and run Memtest to rule out faulty ram.
 
Last edited:
Thanks for all the replies, ive tried the DVD drive out of my PC and still get the same, ive also tried an IDE HDD so that rules out Sata issues and HDD, ive formatted the new drive on my PC but I haven't ran disc check, possibly worth a try i suppose.

On the RAM front ive used 1 stick of my RAM at 1.65V and 9 9 9 18 ill run memtest on mine but im not sure this is the issue here.

Gonna give OCUK a call now
 
Not likely to be a hardware issue. Whenever I've loaded Windows XP on here I've had the same problem. To get round it you need to nlite the installation CD (you need another pc) and remove the built in controller drivers. Then add your motherboard's ones into the installation and use your new CD to install Windows XP. Later Windows versions such as Vista (don't install that one though) and Windows 7 won't have this issue.

Nlite can be found here: http://www.nliteos.com/
 
LinktoInsanity said:
Not likely to be a hardware issue. Whenever I've loaded Windows XP on here I've had the same problem. To get round it you need to nlite the installation CD (you need another pc) and remove the built in controller drivers. Then add your motherboard's ones into the installation and use your new CD to install Windows XP. Later Windows versions such as Vista (don't install that one though) and Windows 7 won't have this issue.

Nlite can be found here: http://www.nliteos.com/
Click to expand...


So that only applies to XP?
He's tried vista and 7 and its the same.
 
Called OCUK today and they suggested I flash the BIOS, now maybe its me but it just won't do it, doesn't find any files and dosen't seem to see the memory stick.

So i think another call tomorrow is in order and hopefully i can RMA some of the hardware, ive spent too long trying to sort this now and im certain hardware is at fault.
 
SimonC said:
So that only applies to XP?
He's tried vista and 7 and its the same.
Click to expand...

It does only apply to XP, as far as I know, but if he tries it and it works then it could be down to a similar issue with Vista and 7.

But upon re-reading it it does seem more like faulty hardware. That or his heatsink isn't attached properly or something...
 
Build a BartPE or similar disc which is based on XP and can boot the system without any HDD connected. Also may be worth trying to swap the PSU.
 
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